Two ambulance crews rushed to the scene

Man, 35, goes into cardiac arrest and dies at Rainham rail station

Ramzy Alwakeel, Reporter Friday, January 11, 2013
10:23 AM

As they waited for an ambulance, five bystanders at Rainham railway station tried to resuscitate a 35-year-old man who had gone into cardiac arrest.

What to do if someone collapses and stops breathing

(1) Call 999 for an ambulance

(2) Start chest compressions

(3) Ask if there is a defibrillator nearby

You can take a simple course to learn CPR and how to use a defibrillator. Call London Ambulance Service on 020 7783 2534 for more information.

Sadly, despite their efforts, and the attempts of two ambulance crews to save him both at the scene and on the way to hospital, the man died.

Paramedics rushed to the scene at 7.45am last Thursday (January 10) after receiving an emergency call.

The man was taken to Queen’s Hospital, Romford, but did not survive.

Esther Brooks was one of those who stepped in to help.

She wrote on the Recorder website: “The emergency services were fantastic – they worked in terrible cold conditions and with trains pulling in and out of the station.

“I hope that I can make contact with the family and tell them that everyone tried so hard to revive him. I was lucky enough to find out his name that day and so we could talk to him and hold his hand to tell him that help was on the way. He will stay in my memories forever. RIP xx”

One of the first on the scene was a regular commuter from Rainham.

The 50-year-old, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Recorder no one there knew how to administer CPR.

“I heard three loud screams as if someone was being strangled,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do. None of us there knew first aid but we phoned an ambulance.

“I don’t know CPR. The only thing I could think of was to get him into the recovery position. One chap took his coat off and we put it under his head.

“You don‘t expect it in someone of that age. We just kept shouting: ‘Does anyone know first aid?’

“I would have loved to have done more.”

London Ambulance Service’s operations manager for the borough Paul Gibson praised the efforts of those who stepped in to help.

“I’d like to thank the bystanders who helped a patient who had suffered a cardiac arrest yesterday morning at Rainham rail station,” he said.

“Our staff who attended the patient were very impressed at how five members of the public stepped in before they arrived, and assisted with attempts to resuscitate the patient.

“If you see someone collapse and stop breathing, calling 999 for an ambulance, starting chest compressions and asking if there’s a defibrillator nearby is the best way to give that person the best chance of survival.

“People can find out more about taking a simple course to learn CPR and how to use a defibrillator by calling us on 020 7783 2534.”

Were you there or do you know the people involved? Call the news desk on 020 8477 3903 or e-mail ramzy.alwakeel@archant.co.uk.